DFCS

Emergent crises in Chicago including mass shootings; large gatherings; civil unrest; and teen trends, continue to contribute to incidences of violence (including shootings) in areas of Chicago; and without an established intervention infrastructure to adequately respond to these events critical community violence intervention and prevention (CVIP) resources are pulled away from high-risk communities in order to staff a crisis. And while there have been reductions in overall crime in the city, Chicago continues to face significant challenges stemming from violence, particularly downtown, with dramatic spikes in shootings. Specifically, Central (Loop) police district shootings rose nearly 220% since 2019, the largest increase citywide. Specific factors impacting this increase have included: high-density events, development of the casino, and gatherings downtown which have introduced substantial risk. These large groups frequently convene in areas such as Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile, and surrounding neighborhoods, where social friction among diverse groups can escalate rapidly into physical confrontations often accompanied by gunfire and multiple casualties. A recent example was the drive-by mass shooting in July 2025 near a nightclub in River North which resulted in four deaths and fourteen injuries; this event underscores the urgent threat of gun violence in areas attracting mixed crowds. These incidents generate localized trauma, anxiety, and reputational harm making violence prevention capacities in the 18th District critically needed and urgent. These incidents frequently develop with little advance notice and require immediate deployment of trained violence interruption and de-escalation personnel capable of responding in real time. Recent incidents throughout Chicago have demonstrated the need for an operational emergency response capability focused on violence prevention, youth engagement, conflict mediation, crowd stabilization, and firearm violence intervention. The Metropolitan Family Services/Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MFS/MPI) Crisis Prevention and Response Unit (CPRU) is an effective model that serves as a specialized emergency violence prevention resource designed to rapidly respond to critical incidents and emerging threats to community safety. CPRU personnel provide immediate field-based intervention, de-escalation, violence interruption, youth engagement, conflict mediation, crisis stabilization, and coordination with community stakeholders and public safety partners during emergency situations. Failure to continue CPRU response capacity at this time Implementation of CPRU would increase decrease the risk of violence escalation, victimization, public disorder, firearm-related harm, and other adverse public safety outcomes. MFS/MPI CPRU possesses the operational infrastructure to immediately respond to the conditions giving rise to this emergency.

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Reimagine Public Safety Grants are authorized under (430 ILCS 69/3-5)

Reimagine Public Safety Grants are authorized under (430 ILCS 69/3-5)

CPRU is a specialized team of carefully selected credible men and women recruited from the top 20 most-impacted communities across the city. This unit responds to emerging teen trends, mass shootings, civil unrest, large gatherings, conflict mediations, and other critical incidents with the goal to: • Reduce victimizations • Reduce arrests • Connect the highest-risk individuals to essential services, including: o Mentoring o Case management o Trauma resources o Employment opportunities

Yes

FY27

Nonprofit Organizations;

This is a non-competitive opportunity.

The community and youth where teen trends are occurring.

Non-competitive

Public Safety

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Applicant must be prequalified and registered in the Illinois GATA Grantee Portal

Applicant must submit an application which must include, at a minimum, a Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, a program narrative, a budget and a grantee conflict of interest disclosure.

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0

This grant does not require an in-kind or financial match requirement

The initiative aims to provide increased support to residents, local organizations, and public safety stakeholders in addressing youth-related issues, including large gatherings and emerging trends. Through MPI, CPRU will play a key role in de-escalating potential disruptions and preventing violence—promoting safety, stability, and community cohesion. As warmer weather approaches, we anticipate a significant increase in youth activity outside their communities. Historically, this seasonal trend correlates with a rise in large, unorganized gatherings—particularly within the 18th District. These gatherings, often involving unsupervised youth, can quickly escalate into potentially dangerous situations. Data consistently shows that violence tends to spike during warmer months. This makes it imperative that the CPRU is fully supported and prepared for rapid deployment. CPRU plays a vital role in responding to potential activations, mitigating risks, and ensuring public safety during large gatherings. Without adequate funding, our ability to proactively manage these situations is compromised. Supporting CPRU ensures we have the resources and personnel ready to intervene before incidents occur, protecting both youth and the broader community. Expense examples include, but are not limited to: Personnel Costs • Overtime & On-Call Pay for nights/weekends • Training & Certification in: o De-escalation techniques o Trauma-informed care o Community violence interruption (CVI) o Resource navigation and referral systems Equipment & Uniforms • Non-police branded uniforms (to maintain community trust) • Communication devices (radios, encrypted phones) • First aid kits and trauma response supplies • Tablets/laptops for field reporting and resource referrals Community Engagement & Outreach • Printed materials (flyers, brochures) on how to access services • Community events (peace walks, resource fairs, listening sessions) • Translation and interpretation services for multilingual outreach

Reporting upon execution of the grant agreement shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the UGA and related exhibits which include but is not limited to the following: 1. Periodic Financial Reports a. The monthly expenditure reports must be submitted by email no later than the 15th of each month for the preceding month. b. The quarterly Periodic Financial Report must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter: Quarter 1 (July 1 – September 30) is due October 15th; Quarter 2 (October 1 – December 31) is due January 15th; Quarter 3 (January 1 – March 31) is due April 15th and Quarter 4 (April 1 – June 30) is due July 15th. 2. Periodic Programmatic Reports a. The Quarterly Periodic Performance Reports must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter; Quarter 1 (July 1 – September 30) is due October 15th; Quarter 2 (October 1 – December 31) is due January 15th; Quarter 3 (January 1 – March 31) is due April 15th; and Quarter 4 (April 1 – June 30) and final (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) is due July 15th. 3. Close-out Performance Reports and Financial Reports as instructed in the UGA. 4. Other Unique Programmatic Reporting Requirements: a. Program Evaluation Reporting Requirements: Providers will be required to participate in evaluation efforts as directed by the Department and/or its subcontractor(s) and collect and report data accordingly. b. Providers will be required to participate in Program Compliance and Performance Assessment reviews. Additional data and information may be requested throughout the year as determined by the Department. C. Additional annual performance data may be collected as directed by the Department and in the format prescribed by the Department. 5. If the State share of any State award may include more than $500,000 over the period of performance applicants are also subject to the reporting requirements reflected in Appendix XII to 2 CFR 200. Noncompliance with any of the identified reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop-Payment List.

Audit Requirements set forth in the grant agreement.

In accordance with the Community Services Agreement, each provider shall maintain full and complete records of program operations in compliance with state records retention requirements. Records are defined as those documents that capture program activity, participant information and outcomes, and fiscal data. Providers shall comply with the Local Records Act, which regulates the destruction and preservation of public records within the State of Illinois. Presuming funding is provided for the full 3-year award + renewal period, the Provider will be required to maintain until September 30, 2033, adequate books, all financial records and supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award. If any litigation, claim, or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. The Provider agrees to provide or make available all records related to this grant upon request.

TBD

TBD

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Crisis Prevention Response Unit (CPRU) Since CPRU was established in July 2023, the team has been deployed to 81 crisis events across Chicago—including large gatherings, mass shootings, youth-related trends, and episodes of civil unrest—through June 2025. During the most recent fiscal year (July 2024–June 2025), CPRU responded to 41 crisis events, of which 75% were related to teen trends. Through these deployments, MPI engaged with over 6,000 individuals, focusing on building relationships, understanding community needs, and fostering a sense of unity and safety. CPRU’s efforts have contributed to fewer victimizations, reduced arrests, and effective connections for high-risk individuals with relevant services and resources. The team has also maintained strong, productive collaboration with the Chicago Police Department (CPD)—working together on deployment strategy, violence interruption tactics, and post-incident debriefs. Altogether, there have been more than 5,000 youth engagements across approximately 31 different Chicago neighborhoods, plus outreach to over 40 local businesses, positioning CPRU as a trusted, dependable presence in the community. CPRU has been funded by the State of Illinois since 2023 to provide support during large gatherings. In 2025 alone, CPRU responded to over 40 separate large-scale events and served as a reserve response team for shootings in communities where Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs were not present. Notable deployments included incidents in River North and Chicago’s downtown entertainment districts. The Metropolitan Peace Academy CPRU team is currently the only entity dedicated to responding to large teen gatherings, particularly those involving young people from different parts of the city and, in some cases, from outside the city. CPRU’s primary focus is on de-escalating situations and engaging large groups of youth to prevent potential violence, property damage and loss of life. The team is specially trained in youth engagement, conflict de-escalation, and resource deployment, ensuring a proactive and effective approach to maintaining safety. CPRU is a specialized team of carefully selected credible men and women recruited from the top 20 most-impacted communities across the city. This unit responds to emerging teen trends, mass shootings, civil unrest, large gatherings, conflict mediations, and other critical incidents with the goal to: • Reduce victimizations • Reduce arrests • Connect the highest-risk individuals to essential services, including: o Mentoring o Case management o Trauma resources o Employment opportunities Allocated funds will be used to expand the capacity of CPRU to better serve the downtown area, with a focus on the Chicago Police Department’s 18th District. These resources will strengthen CPRU’s partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, enhancing engagement and intervention efforts within the district.

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823 E. Monroe St. Springfield, IL 62701

https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=139077

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None

FY 2027 : $600,000